Where did I take this picture?
l3wis 
May 2015
Sioux Falls Text Ban group proposing total ban on cell phones in Sioux Falls while driving
This proposal is from SAFER STREETS FOR SIOUX FALLS;
Updated Synopsis
Here is the information that has been sent to the individuals, corporations and institutions that have expressed an interest in supporting SSFSF. This is a new effort to improve public safety while driving in Sioux Falls.  SSFSF is a group of individuals, institutions and organizations in Sioux Falls formed to present a proposed ordinance to the City that would prohibit the use of any hand held portable electronic device while driving in Sioux Falls. This would be a Sioux Falls ordinance and not have any application outside of the City. It would prohibit, while driving, all forms of electronic communication while holding any electronic device. That includes surfing the Internet with a smart phone, texting both sending and receiving, cell phone conversations, game playing, etc. Austin and San Antonio, TX are the two most recent cities to ban hand held electronic devices while driving.
The use of hands free electronic devices to make and receive telephone or audio transmissions is permitted. GPS devices are allowed if affixed to the vehicle. Calls to emergency personnel are permitted. All other uses of hand held electronic devices would only be permitted if you park your vehicle. Emergency and medical personnel are exempt if they are acting in an official capacity.
I’m against this for a number of reasons, first the obvious. Educating drivers on how to be better drivers goes a heckuva a lot farther then any laws.
Secondly, it would be a nightmare for the SFPD to enforce. And thirdly, like the unneeded texting ban, there are already laws in place for reckless and careless driving. If you are distracted while driving (talking on phone, playing with the radio, arguing with others in the car, or even spilling hot coffee on yourself) and cause an accident, you can be charged. A total cell phone ban is unfair to those who can handle driving while talking on a phone.
Like I said above, I am all for EDUCATION. I would even be willing to have the city council authorize spending $100,000K on it. But a ban on cell phone use in cars, good luck with that.
I also believe this would truly set the city up for a battle with the state legislature, the Attorney General and the Courts.
I suggest to the group, if they want the ban, to have a petition drive and get it on the ballot. This is too complicated of an issue to let 8 people and a mayor decide. I think it would also be something that would be very difficult to pass on the council.
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Over 8 years ago I proposed my East/West route
It’s been awhile since this topic was brought up, and this is what I brought to the plate;
One of the biggest arguments Minnehaha Country Club had was that the land was a Audubon reserve that should be preserved. I couldn’t agree more. It is some of the most beautiful green space in the entire city, and if you have the money, you can see it. I think my approach would shoot holes in their argument and help the city get federal and state funding for the project. Build a state park in the middle of Sioux Falls.
Then here comes another great argument to finally build the east/west route;
Beings that the top 5 worst intersections in Sioux Falls are 41st Street and Kiwanis Ave, 41st Street and I-29, 41st Street and Louise Ave, 41st Street and Western Ave, and 41st Street and Marion Road, I can clearly see now, as the city council does, that our problem here must be on 57th Street and Bahnson Avenue on the south-Side, which is where there just so happens to be a small segment of land our greed-stricken city planners have their sights on annexing next. Perhaps the money junkies can use that land to move their sacred golf courses to the outskirts of town, as opposed to bottlenecking the entire city on two main routes, sparing the residents of Sioux Falls from 400+ traffic collisions every few dozen months, just so that the money junkies don’t have to go through the horror of driving an additional 15-minutes outside of town to go golfing.
While I agree 100% with Devin, the monied elite will never let this happen. Several mayors (Hanson, Munson & Huether) have all said that putting the golf courses in the center of town was bad planning, but none of them have had the guts to do anything about it. While they have bullied an entire neighborhood on the Southside over a Walmart, they won’t touch the country clubs with a ten foot pole.
Another suit against the city over property rights. Yawn.
This is beginning to become so boring and prevalent, I may just need to take a nap. Wait! That’s what the building services department do all day, then their boss knocks off at 3:55 PM on Fridays to have a nice micro brew.
City Attorney Loop-Hole David Fiddle-Faddle, of course clears it all up for us;
The city was served with the law suit late Wednesday and was “still digesting” it Thursday afternoon, City Attorney David Pfeifle said. He described the issue as a dispute between neighbors with the city caught in the middle.
Better get some antacids. Caught in the middle? You are the ones to issue the permits, you are the governing body. You know that? Right? Dave? This isn’t about a ‘dispute’ this is about the city not doing their job correctly. Oh, and the irony of the health system that the doctor building the home works for . . . I ask, would Dr. Annette Bosworth be allowed to build a home that didn’t follow code?
Is the Pavilion too small to put on the ‘big shows’
Well according to the Fargo City Commission, that may be the case. They are considering re-purposing their civic center into a performance facility, and one of the commissioner’s had this to say about the Pavilion (DOC, Page 4:Â web150105)
